Sole plates and timber widths

[James]

Hi,

I wondered if someone could explain which turnouts would have soleplates under the toe and which wouldn’t? (I’m looking at SR 1930s/1940s) Do they only occur in points with FPLs or would they be on all?

Also, were all the timbers in a turnout 12”? On the latest Templot template I printed, it looked like the first 7 or 8 turnout timbers were the normal width and only increased to 12” after that? I may have just done something silly to the settings somewhere if that’s not correct.
Many thanks for any replies as always.

 

[Martin Wynne]

@James

Hi James,

All standard-gauge bullhead switches have a soleplate on the toe timber, if it is wooden. The soleplate is necessary to prevent the side forces from traffic causing gauge-spread by wear of the chair fixing holes. If the chairs were to spread, the stretcher bars, locks and detection gear may no longer close the switch properly, causing a derailment. The soleplate has a rib at each end bearing against the chair to prevent spread.

In the case of flat-bottom rail on steel or concrete bearers, a soleplate may not be needed, but is sometimes provided for FPL fittings, etc.

Soleplates may or may not be found on light railways, narrow-gauge, industrial sidings, etc. (most of which use flat-bottom rail).

All standard-gauge switch and crossing timbers are normally 12" wide.

The possible exception is the first 2 (or more) timbers in the switch front, in front of the toe, numbered J in Templot. In some pre-grouping (i.e. pre-1923) designs these are ordinary 10"-wide sleepers. There is an option setting for this in Templot -- for the loose-heel switches the default is for a sleepered switch front (10"). The REA and flat-bottom switches default to a timbered switch front (12"). The setting can be changed by creating a custom switch, or by shoving the J timbers.

For SR 1930s/40s you can safely assume all switches have a soleplate and all turnout timbers are 12" wide. Wider timbers are sometimes used in diamond-crossings and slips.

Some Northern pre-grouping railways used interlaced 10" sleepers under turnouts instead of long timbers, but it would be extremely unlikely to find any of those on the SR in the 30s/40s, except perhaps in old little-used country goods yards, behind the gasworks, etc.

cheers,

Martin.

 

[James]

Fantastic and useful reply as always - many thanks. Also the reply I wanted as I have already stuck down 12” timbers throughout and added a sole plate to each toe of the tandem - phew! Was worried I’d have to lever them off!!